Discussion between Airlangga University (UNAIR) and the National Commission on Disability (KND)
AIL NEWS – The hearing between Airlangga University (Unair) and the National Commission on Disability (KND) took place on Friday, April 22, 2022, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Western Indonesian Time in the Balairua Room on the 4th floor of Unair. Unair was represented by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni (AMA), Prof. Dr. Bambang Sektiari Lukiswanto, Drh., DEA, who warmly welcomed the KND team to Unair. He was accompanied by the Director of Education, the Director of Infrastructure, the Director of Logistics, Security, Order, and Environment at Unair, as well as the Unair Inclusive Education Services team. The KND representatives present were Dante Rigmalia as the Chair of KND and his team. He is an educator and educational consultant for children with special needs (learning disabilities), who also has multiple disabilities, namely hearing impairment and dyslexia.
Dante, as Chair of the KND, along with four KND members, held a hearing to socialize the functions and roles of the KND, which was inaugurated by President Jokowi on December 1, 2021. The KND was established as a form of respect and protection for the rights of persons with disabilities in Indonesia, as mandated by Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities. One of the aspects currently being addressed by the KND is the low employment rate of persons with disabilities in both the private and public sectors. According to Dante, there are many factors causing this, including the limited number of persons with disabilities pursuing higher education, making it difficult for them to compete in the labor market. In this regard, the KND hopes that universities can provide more opportunities for persons with disabilities to study in higher education, in order to equip them to access employment and develop economic independence.
In addition, the KND hearing aimed to initiate cooperation between Unair and KND, including collaboration in research to develop facilities for students with disabilities in higher education. This is in line with various laws and regulations on persons with disabilities, which encourage the fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities in accessing education at all levels. At the end of the hearing session, the Vice Rector of AMA Unair welcomed the hearing from KND and expressed his willingness to collaborate with KND. The details of the collaboration will be discussed further, with the signing of an MoU between the two parties.
